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The boys basketball season has started. Here are previews for teams around the Kane County Chronicle coverage area.
Batavia Bulldogs
Coach: Jim Nazos
Top RETURNERS
Name Year Pos.
Jayden Johnson sr. F
Devin Cheaney sr. F
Josh Costello sr. F
Top NEWCOMERS
Name Year Pos.
Luke Fehrenbacher jr. G
Trent Tousana so. G
Ethan Ivan so. F
Outlook: The Bulldogs return a multi-year starter in Jayden Johnson, one of the area’s top scorers at 17 points per game. Johnson also averaged 4.6 rebounds per game last season. The Bulldogs will have to find ways to replace the production lost from the graduations of Zack Weber, Marko Yager and Ethan Neibch. Batavia typically employs a high-motion offense and will figure to be tough defensively as well in a push for DuKane Conference contention.
“We are looking to be very competitive in a very competitive conference,” Nazos said. “We are optimistic but understand that we will be a work in progress for the first month.”
Burlington Central Rockets
Coach: Brett Porto
2018-19 Record: 26-9
Top RETURNERS
Name Year Pos.
Jake Lenschow sr. F
Josh Hudgens sr. F
Zac Schmidt so. G
Top NEWCOMERS
Name Year Pos.
Carson Seyller so. G
Gavin Sarvis so. G
Aidan De La Mar jr. G
Outlook: The Rockets will have to find a way to replace the high-level production of Patrick Mayfield, who averaged 28 points per game last season. Burlington Central returns a bevy of experience starting with Lenschow and Schmidt. Eddie Wells also provided solid defense when called upon, so the Rockets should be able to compete for a deep playoff run.
“Looking forward to being very competitive and working hard to get better every day this season,” Porto said.
Geneva Vikings
Coach: Scott Hennig
2018-19 Record: 32-2
Top RETURNERS
Name Year Pos.
Josh Preston sr. F
Drew Johnson sr. F
Outlook: The Vikings’ stellar roster from a season ago was gutted by the graduation of Jack McDonald, Mitch Mascari and Kross Garth. Preston is the only returning player with heavy varsity minutes from last year’s supersectional team. Geneva will have to develop quickly with Preston leading the charge.
“[We’re] a young team and hardworking group,” Hennig said. “[The] sophomore team had a great season last year, and they are excited to leave their legacy at Geneva.”
Kaneland Knights
Coach: Ernie Colombe
2018-19 Record: 7-25
Top RETURNERS
Name Year Pos.
Bryce Ebert sr. F
Will Cushman sr. G
Ethan Feiza sr. C
Top NEWCOMERS
Name Year Pos.
Porter Conroy jr. G/F
Jamari Meeks jr G
Julian Rodriguez jr G
Outlook: The Knights struggled a bit last season. Colombe transitions over from coaching the girls program. The Knights return high performers in Ebert and Cushman to usher in the new era. Ebert hovered around 11 points per game last season.
“We have a lot of competition for minutes on this team and it should be a fun season,” Colombe said. “This team is full of players with high character and strong work ethic.”
Marmion Cadets
Coach: Antonio Young
2018-19 Record: 9-22
Top RETURNERS
Name Year Pos.
Carlos Liz sr. G
Nick Reid jr. G
Griffin Bohr sr. G
Top NEWCOMERS
Name Year Pos.
Max Lambert jr. F
Neil Schwartz jr. F
Outlook: The Cadets bring back solid scoring and experience in Liz, Reid and Bohr to help ease some of the losses from last season. Marmion graduated Thomas Surges from last season, and the Cadets will have to find ways to replace his almost 13 points and five rebounds per game.
“Going into my third season at Marmion, we are excited about the group that we have,” Young said.
St. Charles East Saints
Coach: Pat Woods
2018-19 Record: 18-14
Top RETURNERS
Name Year Pos.
Chase Monkemeyer sr. F
Luke Matheny sr. G
Aidan Sullivan sr. F
Top NEWCOMERS
Name Year Pos.
Thomas Ditsworth sr. F
Sean Sullivan sr. F
Outlook: St. Charles East will have to find ways to score with Cody Mitchell and Nate Ortiz being lost to graduation. St. Charles East returns three starters in Monkemeyer, Matheny and Sullivan. The Saints will have a talented bench with experience.
“The Saints are looking to extend the streak of at least 18 wins for the seventh straight year,” Woods said. “[That’s] hard to do, considering our conference and the Hinsdale tournament and our Thanksgiving tourney as well. Believe it or not, the Saints are going to play faster than ever, adding pressure defense with a deep bench.”
St. Charles North North Stars
Coach: Tom Poulin
2018-19 Record: 15-18
Top RETURNERS
Name Year Pos.
Luke Scheffers sr. PG
Christian Czerniak sr. G
Connor Linke sr. F
Top NEWCOMERS
Name Year Pos.
Jordan Nubin jr. G
Sam DeDobbelaere jr. G
Ethan Marlowe so. F
Outlook: The North Stars are coming into the season recharged after winning the program’s first regional title in a decade. They return a bundle of experience with point guard Scheffers, Czerniak and Colin Nelson. Linke, a Bradley recruit and double-double machine last season, returns to give them plenty of length down low.
“I like our experience and leadership, as well as our depth,” Poulin said. “It is a very unselfish group who are only concerned with winning. That is refreshing. We expect to compete for a conference championship in a very difficult and challenging conference.”
St. Francis Spartans
Coach: Erin Dwyer
2018-19 Record: 10-22
Top RETURNERS
Name Year Pos.
Eric Welch sr. F
Bryce Walker sr. F
Robert Nocek sr. F
Top NEWCOMERS
Name Year Pos.
Nick Ciombor jr. F
Brendan Yarusso so. G
Michael Bumpus jr. F
Outlook: St. Francis returns plenty of experience from last season, including 6-foot-8 forward Walker, who averaged eight points and five rebounds per game last season. Nocek and Welch also return. They combined for 12 points and seven rebounds per game. The Spartans have added depth in Jake Tangorra and Ryan French.
“We return some solid depth and experience,” Dwyer said. “Looking forward to getting all of the football players back healthy and ready to contribute.”